Just nailed down a couple great getaways. With a little one, we have found it's easier for us to do 1 or 2 night trips. Makes it easier to get a sitter and really it forces to you explore more of the great local getaways and areas closer to home!While in Leavenworth recently, a local shopkeeper passed on a great tip from an elderly customer. She said the older you get the closer to home you travel. Get in the great far away places when your young, because its so much easier. Then get in the wonderful local spots later!I have traveled the world so time to enjoy more local trips!So for our next two planned trips, we wanted to getaway but add on a romantic twist. Where else better than Oregon Wine Country and California Wine Country.Oregon: One of my favorite places to travel. Whether its Seaside, Bend, Portland, or wine country; Oregon has it all. tax free shopping, wine, beer, and everything you could ask for.For this trip we decided to combine wine country with shopping. So for night one, we will venture just 3 hours from home to the small town of Mcminnville. Located in the heart of wine country, we will stay at the McMinnemans Hotel Oregon. If you haven't visited a Mcminnemans you are missing out. Although this will be my first actual stay at one, I never miss a chance to visit one of their pubs or locations while in Oregon or Washington. We will not only have some of their great beer, but hit some local wine shops, plus get to visit some family friends. The McMinnemans features rustic, old, charming accomodations. Some rooms have private bathrooms, some share a bathroom or have a bathroom down the hall, but with rates starting at $60 how could you not try it. A king room with Private bath will only set you back abouut a $100.For the second night, its one hour back up the road to Portland for a shoppers package. I got a great shoppers package with Coast Hotels and we will stay at the Benson. This hotel also an old rustic charmer that will make you feel like you've gone back to the 40's. This package faetures King room, breakfast for 2, a $25 gift card for use in the hotel, a $50 Macys gift card plus 10% off at Macys, Valet parking, and more. All that for under $190.Stayed tuned for the great details of the California Wine Country trip I booked......

I know I get that Vegas itch from time to time. However, sometimes Vegas is just too far to go, but if you want to hit the casino for the night and get in a quick getaway, sometimes the great caisnos of the Pacific NW can provide that.This deal is for the Little Creek Casino near Shelton. For $99 you get one night accomodations (Sun-Fri), plus your choice of a 50 minute spa treatment! What a deal. Most $50 minute spa treatments would cost more than that.CLICK HERE

We love Coast Hotels and when a good deal comes up its worth staying. To be honest, If I had to pay full price or not get anything free included, this would be the place. I have only stayed at the Seattle hotels, but that may change soon. Always great staff and I have always enjoyed my stays there.I stumbled upon a deal for Portland, Oregon and thought I would share. The Benson Hotel, which gives you that old historic feeling has a great Shoppers package right now. Rates can vary by night but here's what I found for a weeknight.Normal King Room would cost me $139+$31 for parking so I am at $170 already.Package deal gets me that King Room(139), Valet Parking(31), $50 gift card to Macy, 10% discount at Macys to use my gift card at, shopping tote, photo discount, $25 gift card to The Benson Hotel, and Breakfast buffet for two which has to be $10 pp at least I am guessing. Thats a total of $265 for $189. So for $19 more, Ill get all the extras added in.Even if you just use the gift cards and included parking thats huge. I could have tried to snag this on hotwire for around $105, which would have gotten me a lower tier room, I would have paid $31 for parking, and we would have to eat breakfast (20) so I would have been had $156 already. Foir an extra $33 ill get the $50 gift card to complete some Christmas shopping and the $25 GC from the hotel.Check it out online today! CLICK HERE

Hopefully you have been following my Facebook page to research some of the upcoming deals.But now that its here, start looking for great deals at your favorite travel sites! Many of the deals will be for travel now-January, some deals extend into January, and some will let you book farther out.Don't forget the airlines too! Alaska just launched a sale today and you can get some great fares. The Sea-San Fran for $59 each way looked nice as we are planning a spring trip to Napa.Follow my facebook page for the most up to date links and deals!Happy Travels!

My favorite things combined.....Sports and Las Vegas! With the Huskies projected for being Vegas bound I figured I would give fans some options and pricing on how to get there!First off, here's the website for the bowl, CLICK HEREIt's on Saturday December 22nd at 1230 PM. Luckily December can bring some good Vegas deals, but airfare hasnt dropped as much as fuel prices would indicate. Most opeions I have listed are flying in Friday and leaving on Sunday. I reccomend a couple options.1. Go with a package deal from Expedia. With regular airfare ranging anywhere from $350-$425 (From SEA), Expedia has packages for 2 people at $400-$450 per person! You can still snag some strip properties like Luxor or Ballys. You can go close to strip with LVH, or if you like Freemont and the downtown feel you can go with that too. For the $475-$500 range you can get Harrahs or Flamingo and for $550 range you can snag Bellagio.2. Book sperately, especially if you have a players card. Get some airfare in the range I mentioned above and book with your players card. I use total rewards which are the Harrah's properties. I could get Imperial Palace(or The Quad) or whatever they are calling it now for $17 total for two nights, Bally's for $86, or $142 for Harrahs. That would bring me in, just under the package prices plus using my rewards which could lead to future deals!Go Huskies!

Cyber Monday is just a week away so I thought I would start a running log of deals both on a local and national basisLas vegas:Treasure Island: Up to 55% off and free buffets-CLICK HERELocal:Tulalip Resort Casino-50% off!-CLICK HEREOther:Great Articles w/deals:USA Today has a great article with a ton of deals! CLICK HEREFodors travel lists some great deals-CLICK HERE

If you haven't had the chance yet and live up here in the Pacific NW, check it out! I scored a deal on living social for $139 for two nights in a two bedroom at the Adventure Inn. Yes, the place is quirky, but it had a great location and the room worked out great for us!Here is a great site to learn all about Leavenworth. CLICK HERE

I haven't forgot about all of you. I have been focusing on posting mostly on Facebook lately. I am without my laptop so Facebook is much easier for posting deals quickly, but don't fear I will be back full charge on the website as well by the end of the year!CLICK HERE FOR FACEBOOK PAGE